Nationals at Pirates
The Washington Nationals look to continue their historic offensive surge when they visit the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates for the second of a four-game set Tuesday night. The Nationals have scored 62 runs over the last five games - four more than they have ever recorded in that span - after pounding out 15 hits, including four homers, on the way to a 13-0 rout in Monday’s series opener.
Trea Turner belted one of the home runs in the series opener to extend his career-high on-base streak to 26 contests for Washington while teammate Asdrubal Cabrera also went deep and is 11-for-29 with 10 RBIs in nine games since coming to the team. Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg leads the National League with 15 wins and will go after his career-high 16th victory when he takes the mound Tuesday against fellow right-hander Chris Archer, who has not earned a victory since June 6. While Washington leads the NL wild-card race and trails first-place Atlanta by five games in the NL East, the Pirates have fallen apart since the All-Star break with seven victories in the last 35 contests. Rookie Bryan Reynolds had one of the four hits for Pittsburgh in the series opener and leads the team with a .326 batting average while teammate Starling Marte saw his six-game hitting streak end, but is 12-for-27 over his past seven contests.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (15-5, 3.82 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chris Archer (3-9, 5.23)
Strasburg has not been as sharp in his last three starts, but managed to post a win Wednesday against Cincinnati when he allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old San Diego State product has surrendered 16 runs over 17 1/3 innings combined in his last three starts after giving up four in his previous five outings. Marte is 7-for-18 with a homer versus Strasburg, who is 6-2 with a 2.40 ERA in nine career games against Pittsburgh.
Archer has pitched better this month while registering a 3.18 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 17 innings and three starts, but his winless streak has reached 12 contests. The 30-year-old two-time All Star gave up four runs (three earned) over five innings and matched a season high with 10 strikeouts in a loss at the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Adam Eaton is 7-for-15 with a double against Archer, who limited Washington to one run over seven innings in a no-decision April 13.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh 1B Josh Bell needs one homer to tie Bobby Bonilla (32) for the single-season franchise record among switch hitters.
2. Washington placed 2B Brian Dozier on paternity leave Monday and INF Adrian Sanchez was recalled.
3. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle has 1,251 career victories, two behind Billy Martin for 38th on major league baseball’s all-time list.